April 2017 — Trump launches investigation into steel imports

President Trump, who has repeatedly vowed to bring manufacturing and jobs back to the United States, directs the Department of Commerce to investigate whether imports of foreign steel from China and other countries could be a threat to national security.

August 2017 — Another investigation tightens the screws on China

Trump launches a second government probe explicitly targeting China. He asks US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to look into unfair China's trade practices, with a particular focus on alleged Chinese theft of US intellectual property.

The government agency later estimates that intellectual property theft by China costs the US "between $225 billion and $600 billion" every year.

A quiet few months

The Trump administration's threats against China, including the two probes, don't lead to tangible action over the rest of 2017 as Trump shows restraint amid a budding relationship with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

January 2018 — First, solar panels and washing machines

The first major trade action against China comes at the beginning of the year, when the US announces a 30% tariff on imported solar panels -- most of which come from China -- and taxes on large residential washing machines starting at 20%.

March 9, 2018 -— Trump imposes tariffs on steel imports

US neighbors Canada and Mexico are exempted from the tariffs, with Trump saying other countries could potentially receive similar exemptions if they can "ensure that their products no longer threaten our security."

China, the world's biggest steel exporter, calls the tariffs "a serious attack" on international trade and says it will take "firm action" if Chinese businesses suffer losses as a result.

April 2, 2018 — China hits back

Beijing imposes tariffs on US imports worth around $3 billion, including a 15% duty on 120 American products including fruits, nuts, wine and steel pipes and a 25% tax on eight others, like recycled aluminum and pork.

The Chinese government says its tariffs are specifically in response to the US trade measures against steel and aluminum.

One of the notable casualties of the Chinese tariffs is a US company that's owned by China. Virginia-based Smithfield Foods, the world's biggest pork producer, will likely be hit hard. Shares in China's WH Group, which owns Smithfield, have plunged more than 11% since the tariffs were first proposed two weeks ago.

April 3, 2018 — US threatens to target another $50 billion in Chinese goods

April 4, 2018 — China warns of tariffs on another $50 billion in American goods

The Chinese government announces yet another set of retaliatory tariffs that nearly mirror the Trump administration's proposal a day earlier -- 25% on a range of products from the US, worth approximately $50 billion.

The 106 products on China's list include aircraft and automobiles as well as soybeans and chemicals.

Global markets have been hit hard by the Chinese announcement, as have the products on the list and the companies making them.

The stock market enjoys a day of gains as investors warm to the idea that most of the back-and-forth between Beijing and Washington is nothing but talk.

But Trump then makes a late-day statement calling for the broadest wave of new tariffs yet — $100 billion worth. He asks US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to look into which products his administration can target.

China warns it would retaliate to any additional tariffs, saying it has "already formulated very detailed countermeasures."